Let’s play a game.

Yesterday I was having a rummage in my bookshelf for a book to swap with Kate when I found a book I forgot I had & had fun flicking through it. The book was The Lonely Planet Guide to Experimental Travel & it has lots of things in it that sound fun to do, but one activity in particular struck me as particularly blog-friendly so I suggest we play.

“Synchronised Travel”.

Here is what to do, camera in hand (take a photo at each step):

1. First stage is your starting point (Take a photo).

2.Walk in any direction for 50 or 100 paces, then turn 180 degrees (photo).

3. Continue walking in that direction until you see something blue (photo).

4. Make a left turn & walk 50 to 70 paces (photo).

5. Walk in any direction until you see something that either is or looks like the number 7 or 11 (photo).

6. Take the first left & continue walking until you find somewhere to sit (photo).

7. Choose any direction & walk for 25 or 50 paces (photo).

8. Continue walking until you see an unusual colour, shape or texture (photo). Turn 180 degrees.

9. Keep walking in any direction until you see an archway or an unusual architectural feature (photo).

10. Head for home but continue looking for something that catches your eye. When you find something, take your photo with it.

Photos should be as creative as you can make them. You can join in wherever in the world you happen to be. I think ideally you’re supposed to do it at the same time but let’s give ourselves a week so as many people as possible can play & I’ll put a linky up next Saturday so that we can share our “journeys”, we might even put together a collage of each step? That would be cool.

You in?

Oh, the shame!

I have a terrible confession to make. You’ll think me an awful, neglectful Mother… dare I tell you?! Yes. Yes I should. Honesty is the best policy & all that… here goes;

Before today, I had never made Miss Punk play-dough.

I know!

She has played with ‘playdoh’ & even the handmade stuff at playgroup – but I had just not gotten around to making her some myself.

The massive bag of play-dough cutters I picked up from Le Oppy on Monday for $2 (…me thinks they might be Tupperware? Experts? I have had the good-fortune of not having to attend a Tupperware party in my entire adult life…) though spurred me on to finally get to it. I promised Punk I’d make some, in exchange for her not opening the bag of cutters & distributing them to mysterious places around the house before then.

It wasn’t hard. I made it before I cleaned the kitchen so that I didn’t have to clean up afterwards muttering about the mess being a good Mother makes. It was even…. fun…. & The Punk loved watching the process, choosing the colours & playing, contentedly, for longer than she has played with anything, ever, with the end result.

So, if like me, you have a deep, dark, brooding play-dough secret, I urge you to go make some & get it over with.

You’ll be glad. I promise.

I can vouch for this, from the book 365 TV-free Activities for Toddlers;

• 1 cup plain flour
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cup cooking oil
• 1 tablespoon cream of tartar
• 1 tablespoon cooking oil
• Food colouring
• Wooden spoon
• Saucepan
• Breadboard
• Plastic containers

With a wooden spoon, mix the flour, water, salt and cream of tartar in a saucepan over a medium heat until thick. When it has cooled, add the oil and knead well on a floured board.

Divide into balls and add different colours….

Playing With Dolls.

Punk & I have been playing with dolls today – I got my first ever Blythe yesterday (Isis, look away now) and am officially in dolly love. She’s not even my ‘first choice’ girl – she is STILL on lay-by, but oh my she is lovely, and so much better than my fakie basaak in so many ways… so I gave her (the fakie) to Le Punk, who, in the course of an afternoon, managed to ‘scalp’ her three times, pull of a leg, frizz up her hair & cover in chocolate chip muffin. Quite obviously, she is adored.

As is my girl, just a bit more… sedately.

I have named her ‘Vida’ after the main female character in my favourite Richard Brautigan novel, she is a ‘Milky Way Sugar’ Blythe, which reminded me of another of Richard Brautigan’s novels ‘Watermelon Sugar’, so, I mean, of course I’d name her something from a different book entirely….

Her gorgeous ensemble above was a gift from an old friend, who I am now convinced has some sort of sixth-fashion-sense, because a more perfect dress for Vida I cannot imagine…

…and the ‘phase’ has only gotten stronger. It is actually quite hard to explain… not to anybody else that likes Blythe, they already ‘get it’, but to someone who wonders what the sudden attraction to a somewhat unconventional looking doll (or any doll for that matter) could possibly be for a grown woman… and I’m sure more than one of you reading this is asking yourself that…

…and honestly… I don’t know what to tell you, except that playing with this thing today has been really, really fun…!

Dress Ups.

Little Punk was watching her Playschool Live DVD yesterday & there is a skit on there where there is a princess stuck in a tower - while she was watching I took 2 seconds to cut her out a crown (I PROMISE I'll make her a proper, lovely crown soon... I do!) & she loved it the second she saw it.

We had our first proper dress ups session..... so fun for both of us - but don't you think she looks an awfully lot like The Little Princess....?!

A Very Pleasant Sunday.

Punky & I had a gorgeous day today, caught the bus to some markets 15 minutes away & pottered around the little town for a couple of hours. The op shop was open which was surprising for a Sunday - but I'm not going to complain! I bought a lovely bag & book on growing veggies while The Punk was so enamoured with a pink ball that the sweet shop assistant gave it to her.


From the markets we got some yummy soap & a shampoo bar & afterwards we played in the park.

It was such a great day for us - in stark contrast to hundreds of families around Victoria today. I feel almost guilty to have enjoyed the day with my daughter while so many people have lost everything they've worked for or even their lives. I have tears in my eyes just typing this.... 700 homes lost & over 65 people already confirmed dead.

My thoughts are with everyone touched by this horrible disaster & my heart goes out to each & every one of you.